'''Valacar''' was the son and heir of the great [[King of Gondor]], [[Rómendacil II]]. While Rómendacil still sat on [[Gondor]]'s throne, he developed a strong alliance with the [[Northmen]] who lived to the east of [[Mirkwood]]. To further the close friendship between Gondor and these Northmen, Rómendacil sent Valacar as an ambassador to the court of their leader [[Vidugavia]], who styled himself [[King of Rhovanion]].

Rómendacil had intended that his son should learn something of the language and culture of the [[Northmen|Men of Rhovanion]], but he had not foreseen how strongly Valacar would be drawn to the Northmen. He went so far as to wed [[Vidumavi]], daughter of Vidugavia, a union that would bring great troubles in the future.

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==History==

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Valacar's father, [[Rómendacil II]], led a large army that in {{TA|1248}} defeated the [[Easterlings]] in the lands beyond the [[Anduin]]. In this same region also dwelt numerous groups of [[Northmen]], of which the most powerful was [[Vidugavia]], who aided [[Gondor]] in the fight against the Easterlings. Rómendacil wished to strengthen the bond with the "[[King of Rhovanion]]", so in {{TA|1250|n}} he sent Valacar as Gondor's ambassador to Vidugavia.<ref name="Gondor">{{App|Gondor}}</ref>

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The Northmen did not share the long lives of the Gondorians, and Vidumavi died even before Valacar had succeeded his father as King. Nonetheless, she bore Valacar an heir. He was raised with the name [[Vinitharya]] in the eastern lands, but returned to Gondor with his father as [[Eldacar of Gondor|Eldacar]]. These events caused unrest throughout Valacar's reign — it was believed that the pure [[Númenórean]] blood of the Royal House would be lost.

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Valacar was charged with learning the language, manners, and policies of the [[Northmen]]. What was not foreseen was that he would become so enamoured of the people and lands of the North that he would want to marry Vidugavia's daughter, [[Vidumavi]].<ref name="Gondor"/> Rómendacil gave his consent to this marriage so as to not antagonize Vidugavia or the Northmen in Gondor's service. Valacar and Vidumavi continued to live in the north and produced a son named [[Vinitharya]], after the fashion of Vidumavi's people. Rómendacil finally recalled his son to Gondor in {{TA|1260|n}}; when Valacar arrived he brought his family as well as a household of noble men and women from the North.<ref>{{PM|Ai}}</ref>

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By the last years of Valacar's reign, certain southern provinces of Gondor saw this unrest break out into full rebellion. In the year Valacar died, 1432, this rebellion became a civil war, a dark and bloody period known as the [[Kin-strife]] that would last for the next fifteen years, until Eldacar managed to secure his throne.

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The news that the heir to the throne had married a woman of a lesser and alien race did not sit well with the high men of Gondor. Vidumavi was short-lived according to the measure of the [[Dúnedain]] and they feared that her descendants would prove likewise, thus diminishing the majesty of Gondor's royalty. This fear, plus the distaste of the people of Gondor for the Northmen who had come into the realm, led to unrest and then rebellion (especially in the southern fiefs) when Valacar grew old. Upon his death Valacar's son, now called [[Eldacar]], had to face civil war during the period called the [[Kin-strife]].<ref name="Gondor"/>

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Valacar ruled as King of Gondor for sixty-six years, and was succeeded through great troubles by his son Eldacar.

Valacar was charged with learning the language, manners, and policies of the Northmen. What was not foreseen was that he would become so enamoured of the people and lands of the North that he would want to marry Vidugavia's daughter, Vidumavi.[3] Rómendacil gave his consent to this marriage so as to not antagonize Vidugavia or the Northmen in Gondor's service. Valacar and Vidumavi continued to live in the north and produced a son named Vinitharya, after the fashion of Vidumavi's people. Rómendacil finally recalled his son to Gondor in 1260; when Valacar arrived he brought his family as well as a household of noble men and women from the North.[4]

The news that the heir to the throne had married a woman of a lesser and alien race did not sit well with the high men of Gondor. Vidumavi was short-lived according to the measure of the Dúnedain and they feared that her descendants would prove likewise, thus diminishing the majesty of Gondor's royalty. This fear, plus the distaste of the people of Gondor for the Northmen who had come into the realm, led to unrest and then rebellion (especially in the southern fiefs) when Valacar grew old. Upon his death Valacar's son, now called Eldacar, had to face civil war during the period called the Kin-strife.[3]